NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance of Angel Chakma Killing
Agartala/New Delhi, Dec 30: More than three weeks after the attack that claimed the life of Tripura student Angel Chakma in Dehradun, the Uttarakhand Police are still searching for the prime absconding accused, Yagyaraj Awasthi, a resident of Nepal’s Kanchanpur district, even as charges in the case have been escalated to murder.
A reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest.
The killing of Angel Chakma has prompted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to question the adequacy of safety measures for students from the Northeastern states in Uttarakhand, signalling concerns that go beyond an isolated crime.
Delhi: On Angel Chakma murder case, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo says, “After receiving a complaint from the NGO named Sahyadri Rights Forum, we have issued notices to the DM and SP of Dehradun. We have asked them to submit a factual report within the same day. They have been… pic.twitter.com/vVArKFRReG
— IANS (@ians_india) December 30, 2025
Taking suo motu cognisance of the case, the NHRC has directed the Uttarakhand government to submit a detailed status report on the investigation and explain what preventive mechanisms exist to protect students from the Northeast studying in the state, IANS reported.
An NHRC bench headed by Member Priyank Kanoongo has sought clarity on the action taken against the accused, the progress of the probe, and the steps initiated to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
The Commission has also instructed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Uttarakhand to treat the safety of Northeastern students as a matter of “highest priority,” reflecting growing institutional concern over repeated complaints of vulnerability faced by students outside the region.
The case has intensified scrutiny of how effectively states enforce safeguards for migrant students, particularly those belonging to ethnic minority communities.
The incident took place on December 9 at Selakui market, where Angel Chakma and his younger brother Michael were allegedly confronted by Suraj Khawas and several associates following an argument.
Police said the confrontation quickly turned violent, with Angel being attacked using knives and brass knuckles. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries on December 26.
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Based on Michael Chakma’s complaint filed on December 12, the police initially registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) dealing with causing bodily harm and criminal intimidation.
Meantime, Uttrakhand and Tripura Governments announced financial aids for the family of the deceased student.